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Program Requirements

2023-2024 Academic Year

Acting Chair

Amy Thurlow, BPR (MSVU), MA (SMU), PhD (SMU), APR, FCPRS, Professor

The Public Relations program is designed to answer the need for university-educated public relations professionals in Canada. Students receive instruction in a variety of liberal arts subjects, communication techniques, public relations theories, practices and management. Graduates are qualified to take up positions in public relations, public affairs and information services in business, government, media, educational and non-profit institutions and consulting firms. Selected courses are available and delivered online.

All students must seek academic advising once admitted to the program. The Department of Communication Studies has a prescribed sequence of courses that must be followed.

Note: Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Public Relations prior to September 2001 should consult with the department regarding the requirements for completion of their program.

Admission Requirements
Please refer to 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements. Enrolment in this program is limited and selection is based on suitable academic background and achievement.

Transfer Requirements
Please review 2.1.4.4 Admission Requirements for Transfer Students.

Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses in a 23.0 unit degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.

Course Failure
If a student fails a Public Relations course twice, they will be dismissed from the Public Relations program.

Bachelor of Public Relations

Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Public Relations degree requires:

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus three co-operative education terms for students admitted to the co-operative education option

❏ successful completion of 20.0 units of coursework plus two work experience terms for students admitted to the work experience option

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in 8.0 units of required coursework including all required PBRL courses, Note: Co-operative education work term courses (PBRL 1188, 2288 and 3388) and work experience term courses (PBRL 1199 and 2299)cannot be counted in the calculation of the GPA

❏ meet all requirements for the co-operative education or work experience programs

❏ students may complete a minor consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units

Required Courses (13.5 units)
❏ BUSI 1112 0.5 unit
❏ BUSI 2230 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 2016 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 2025 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 3017 0.5 unit
❏ COMM 3023 0.5 unit
❏ MATH 2208 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 1010 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 2012 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 2013/COMM 2013 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 2211/COMM 2211 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 3012 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 3013/COMM 3013 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 3014 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 3016 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 3020 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 4014 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 4015 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 4019 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 4101 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 4107 0.5 unit

And

for students in the Co-operative Education Option
❏ PBRL 1188 Co-op Term I 1.0 unit
❏ PBRL 2288 Co-op Term II 1.0 unit
❏ PBRL 3388 Co-op Term III 1.0 unit

for students in the Work Experience Option
❏ PBRL 1199 Work Experience Term I 0.5 unit
❏ PBRL 2299 Work Experience Term II 0.5 unit

❏ 0.5 unit of WOMS (Women’s Studies or Women’s Emphasis course)

❏ 0.5 unit of ENGL at the 1000 level or above

❏ 8.5 units of electives

at least 3.0 units of these 8.5 units must be taken at the 3000 level or above
at least 4.0 units of these 8.5 units must be taken from courses within Arts and Sciences

Co-operative Education Option

The Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education Option) degree is a 23.0 unit Bachelor of Public Relations degree with compulsory co-operative education. The Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education Option) degree is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL).

Co-operative education is a process in which employers and educators co-operate in the education of students by formally integrating the student’s academic program with related work experience. All students in the Co-operative Education Option must complete three alternating co-op terms off-campus with government agencies, non-profit institutions and corporations. Each co-op work term must be related to public relations, paid, full-time (at least 35 hours per week). and at least 13 weeks of continuous employment. Studies show that co-operative education enhances the student’s academic performance and facilitates the student’s transition to the workplace upon graduation.

The co-operative education component involves a sequencing of normal academic terms and co-op terms. Students complete the normal academic sequence for their first 10.0 units if entering the Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education Option) degree directly from high school or with fewer than 7.5 units of transfer credits.

The following schedule depicts the typical Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education Option) program:

Bachelor of Public Relations (Co-operative Education Option) program schedule (PDF)

Program Standards
Students entering the program with considerable professional public relations work experience may use the current university regulations regarding Challenge for Credit to challenge PBRL 1188. Once admitted to the program, students considering this option must consult the academic department to determine eligibility.

Before the first co-op work term, students must meet these prerequisites:

a 2.0 CGPA at the end of the academic term prior to the job search*
normally completion of 10.0 units
successful completion of PBRL 2013, 3012 and COMM 2016, COMM 2025

*Students who do not meet the 2.0 CGPA requirements for co-operative education but have more than 7.5 units of transfer credits, or grades from courses completed more than five years ago, may request an individual review of their transcripts by the department Chair who may approve admission.

Once you have accepted a co-op term, there are three possible grades for co-op terms:

P Pass. Student continues academic study.
NCR No credit, repeat. Normally, a student may receive only one NCR grade and remain in the degree program.
F Fail. A failing grade in a co-op term results in dismissal from the program.

For additional information, refer to the Co-operative Education Program section of the Academic Calendar and the Co-operative Education website.

Work Experience Option

The Bachelor of Public Relations (Work Experience Option) program is a 21.0 unit degree requiring two compulsory work experience terms. This option is available to students who are entering the Bachelor of Public Relations degree program as transfer students ( at least 7.5 units of transfer credits) or are taking the program on a part-time basis.

Work Experience is a form of work integrated learning which intersperses two work-experience terms (typically full-time) into the academic program. These opportunities
provide experience in a workplace setting related to the student’s academic and career goals in public relations.

All students in the Work Experience Option must complete two half-credit (0.5 unit) 13-18 week work-experience terms with government agencies, non-profit institutions and corporations. Each work experience must be related to public relations, paid, full-time (at least 35 hours per week), and at least 13 weeks of continuous employment. Studies show that work experience enhances the student’s academic performance and facilitates the student’s transition to the workplace upon graduation.

The work experience component involves a sequencing of normal academic terms and work experience terms. Students complete the normal academic sequence for their first 10.0 units if entering the Bachelor of Public Relations (Work Experience Option) degree as full-time students coming directly from high school. Students admitted to the Bachelor of Public Relations (Work Experience Option) degree with sufficient transfer credits complete the normal academic sequence for their first 5.0 units. Work experience terms are introduced in the summer terms following the completion of 9.0-11.0 units of course work (Work Experience 1) and then again following the completion of 14.0-16.0 units of coursework (Work Experience 2). The following schedule depicts the typical Bachelor of Public Relations (Work Experience Option) program:

Bachelor of Public Relations (Work Experience Option) program schedule (PDF)Program Standards
Students entering the program with considerable professional public relations work experience may use the current university regulations regarding Challenge for Credit to challenge PBRL 1199. Once admitted to the program, students considering this option must consult the academic department to determine eligibility.

Before each work experience, students must meet these prerequisites:

a 2.0 CGPA at the end of the academic term prior to the job search.*
normally completion of 9.0-11.0 units of coursework prior to Work Experience 1.
normally completion of 14.0-16.0 units of coursework prior to Work Experience 2.

*Students who do not meet the 2.0 CGPA requirements for the work experience but have more than 7.5 units of transfer credits, or grades from courses completed more than five years ago, may request an individual review of their transcripts by the department Chair who may approve admission.

Once a student has accepted a work experience term, there are three possible grades for work experience terms:

P Pass. Student continues academic study.
NCR No credit, repeat. Normally, a student may receive only one NCR grade and remain in the degree program.
F Fail. A failing grade in a work experience term results in dismissal from the program.

Professional Concentration in French

Public Relations students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in French. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ 3.0 units of French language courses (excluding FREN 1101 and 1102)

Professional Concentration in Spanish

Public Relations students have the opportunity to pursue a 3.0 unit concentration in Spanish. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ SPAN 1101, 1102, 2201, 2202, 3301 and 3302

Students completing SPAN 2202 may write the internationally recognized Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Initial Certificate (Certificado Inicial). Students completing SPAN 3302 may write the Spanish examination prepared by the Spanish Ministry of Education and receive the Basic Diploma (Diploma Basico).

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2023-2024 academic year which runs from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.